The Battle of Cambrils or the Massacre of Cambrils took place in December 1640 during the Reapers' War.^[1][2]

Quick Facts Date, Location ...

Battle of Cambrils
Part of Reapers' War
Wall of Cambrils
Date 13–16 December 1640 Location Cambrils, Principality of Catalonia, Spain Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
Principality of Catalonia	Spain
Commanders and leaders
Antoni d'Armengol † Jacint Vilosa † Carles Bertrolà i de Caldés †	Pedro Fajardo
Strength
2,000 - 4,000 2 cannons	23,000 infantry 3,000 cavalry 25 cannons
Casualties and losses
1,100 killed	unknown

Close

The revolt had started in May–June 1640 and as a reaction the Spanish Army had occupied Tortosa in Catalonia in September. On December 8 a large army under Pedro Fajardo de Zúñiga y Requesens headed for Barcelona, passing through Cambrils.

Here, a small force of Catalan rebels attempted to ambush this much larger force, before withdrawing into the town and attempting to defend it. After several days of bombardment and heavy fighting the Spanish captured the town.
When the defenders tried to surrender, some 700 of them were massacred. The three leaders were quickly tried and executed on the garrote. The next day, more people were hanged and the city was sacked.
The Spanish army then continued in the direction of Barcelona, taking Tarragona on December 24. Later this army was decisively defeated in the Battle of Montjuïc on January 23.